This is a finished story.

He opened the door and peered in. The nightlife had ended and now it was early morning. There was no one there, thank God. He pushed the door open all the way and let her trail in behind him. She was drunk as hell.

�Stay here,� he said, and gently placed her on the couch. She laughed and watched, as he frantically made sure they were alone. All is quiet, his tired eyes�

�We�re the only ones awake, aren�t we?� she asked, her speech slurred. He didn�t even look. God knows how much shit he would get in if they got caught, especially this late at night. He�d told her father that they�d be home by One o�clock. It was 4 in the morning now.

�Don�t say a word,� he told her. �And close your legs for God�s sake, we�re not going to do anything. You�re in enough trouble as it is.� She looked rather disappointed, but it was the few beers she had showing. See figures jotted down�

He opened the bedroom door and looked inside. Oh no, someone�s here. I can�t stay, he thought. Quickly he shut the door and ran back to her. She had fallen asleep. Looking around, he scooped her up off the couch and carried her through the hall and to her room. And clothes all strewn around the bedroom floor�

Of course she had to share a room with her little sister. He softly stepped to her bed and laid her down, pulling her covers over her. She was an angel when she was asleep; too bad she had managed to convince them both into drinking while she was awake. He had a few, but not enough to make him wasted.

The room was a mess. Clothes were everywhere, her little sister�s toys spread all over the floor, and it looked like the bookcase had fallen over. He was so tired. They�d been out since five o�clock and partied all night long. Guess it�s not every day that they have a prom. Who would of thought the after party at the dance club would be so much better than the prom? Now nothing's adding up� and nothing's making sense� She's sleeping like a baby� She doesn't know he wasn't meant for this�

Sighing, he slipped out her door. He almost made it to the front door, but was stopped. �Where do you think you�re going? I thought we had an agreement. One o�clock. You�re three hours late.� He turned around to see an angry father right there. His eyes were tired and stressed, bloodshot from worry. I'm missing the war�

�I�m sorry sir, I didn�t think we�d be out that late.�

�Can it. Is that alcohol I smell on your breath, young man?� Her father stepped up to him and took a whiff. �I see it is. Who the hell said you were old enough to drink? This is a senior prom, not a college graduate party! You, mister, are 18 years old. Three years underway.�

�I...�

�Don�t even think about talking back to me.� Worry concerning his thoughts, the angry father punched the boy, knocking the wind out of him. He fell to the ground, barely able to breath. �I never want you seeing my daughter again, you got that?� Missing the war all night�

�Yes sir,� he said, trying to regain his composure. A swift kick in the face blew that away. Her father sank down to his knees, looking straight at the boy. Missing the war�I'm missing the war�

�If you ever come near this place again, if I even see you come by in your existence, your existence will be terminated. Do you understand me?�

�Yes sir.� He drove home again� Pissed and beaten�

�Now get out of this house.� The door opened and the boy made his way out, and quickly to his car. �It�s not like even want to see her again,� he muttered, giving him self an angry look.

He didn�t drive home, he kept circling the highways. When he was to get home, he would get beaten again for being out so late, might as well let the wounds heal a bit before fresh ones come along. It's really no big deal� It happens all the time� It's no big deal� I'm missing the war�I'm missing the war all night� Missing the war� I'm missing the war�

Sunlight hit at 6:45, on an achy face. A fat lip and a deep cut on his cheek was what he had to pay visually. God knows if he was alright inside. That punch was more than he had expected. 'Til beads of sunlight hit me in the morning�

At seven o�clock he pulled up to his house. He looked around, then got out of the car and opened the front door. Back at her place he had to deal with an angry father, now he had to deal with an angry mother. So much time so little to say�

�Where the hell have you been?� Time may fly�

�I took her home, got beat up and drove around so the wounds could heal,� he said, hanging his coat up. �I don�t need anymore pain today.� and dreams may die�

�I seriously expected more out of you,� she said. �Your two older brothers, yeah, I know they would stay out all night. But you, Zac, I expected more. You went out to a club and you drank, didn�t you?�

�Yes.�

Her voice was shaky. �Go, Zac.� The shaking voice that tells him go� Still thinks he might� He knows he won't�

She looked up at him. �I don�t care where you go anymore, just go. Stop causing us grief. We expected more from you.� She stopped, taking in a shaky breath. �Well, I guess you�re just like them.� Missing the war�

Musical credit goes to Ben Folds Five (Missing the War)
� 2000 [email protected]